Tirreno Power shuts down Liguria plant after court seizure

Company 'negligent', emissions data 'unreliable' says judge

(ANSA) - Genoa, March 11 - Italian electricity provider
Tirreno Power began shutting down the coal-fired units at its
Vado Ligure plant in Italy's northwestern Liguria region on
Tuesday after a judge ordered their seizure for allegedly
exceeding emission limits.

In a move reminiscent of the case of the polluting ILVA
steelworks in the southern port city of Taranto, Savona
preliminary investigations judge Fiorenza Giorgi ordered the
seizure of the Vado Ligure plant on grounds of alleged
"negligent behaviour" by Tirreno Power and because the emissions
data from the plant was deemed "unreliable".

The shut-down was expected to take a total of 20 hours.

A separate gas-fired generator not subject to the
restrictions set out in the plant's integrated environmental
authorisation (IEA) was to remain in operation.
Meanwhile trade unions representing the power plant's 700
workers called for an urgent meeting with Tirreno Power, the
Liguria regional authorities and the local authorities to
discuss the seizure.
"We are shocked by the scope of the provision ordered by
the court and requested by the prosecutor's office," said unions
representative Maurizio Perozzi.
"There are two aspects to the question facing the power
station," said his colleague Pino Congiu.

"One concerns the strict regulations imposed by the IEA.

The other concerns the economic crisis that has also been
affecting this sector for a long time. We wouldn't want this
closure to have a serious impact on the workforce as well," he
added.
Tirreno Power is controlled by the French multinational
electric utility company Gdf Suez with 50% of shares.

A further 39% of the company is held by Sorgenia, a
subsidiary of the CIR holding company controlled by Italian
businessman Carlo De Benedetti, while the remaining 11% is
divided equally between Italian multi-utility companies Hera and
Iren.